Amongst one group of colleagues, in one area of my life, we have a favourite inspirational quote. I don't think you can get more inspirational than this quote, but I'd love to hear others that are equally inspirational. If possible, even inspirationaller:

Quote:

We are all broken.That's how the light gets in.

You need to say it very solemnly ... and then have a moment of quiet. That's the way to get the full effect.

`I don’t think they play at all fairly,’ Alice began, in rather a complaining tone, `and they all quarrel so dreadfully one can’t hear oneself speak–and they don’t seem to have any rules in particular; at least, if there are, nobody attends to them–and you’ve no idea how confusing it is all the things being alive..."

Another favorite is from Neil Simon. I just looked it up, as I couldn't remember it word for word. Here's the real one:

Don't listen to those who say, you are taking too big a chance. Michelangelo would have painted the Sistine floor, and it would surely be rubbed out by today.

I have an old handwritten note from my graduate advisor on a corkboard in my office. We'd just written a short invited article, and he was conveying the referee/editor's reports to me. He wrote: "(very famous physicist) liked it so well he says it should be in textbooks!" So when I feel like an idiot (or lose my enthusiasm), I look at that highlighted sentence and think I must not be as stupid as I think.

"Everything you've always wanted is on the other side of fear." - George Addair.

To counter that a little "... remember that courage and strength are nought without prudence, and that a momentary negligence may destroy the happiness of a lifetime. Do nothing in haste; look well to each step; and from the beginning think what may be the end" Edward Whymper.

I was going to balance that with "Just do it" but even though I know it was used before the shoe people trademarked it I can't find it in print.

`I don’t think they play at all fairly,’ Alice began, in rather a complaining tone, `and they all quarrel so dreadfully one can’t hear oneself speak–and they don’t seem to have any rules in particular; at least, if there are, nobody attends to them–and you’ve no idea how confusing it is all the things being alive..."

- Lewis Carroll

Like.

Profound, that is. I could use that as a complete guide to how to live my life.